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Hari Georgison
As Beatlemania waned and the Beatles transformed into serious artists, Harrison, spurred by his increasing dissatisfaction with fame and fortune and with his introduction to Eastern mysticism, took his passion in spirituality to new levels. Upon meeting Indian musician Ravi Shankar in 1966, Harrison began to develop more than just a passing eclecticism in Eastern spirituality. Vedic philosophy began to satiate many of the longings that Beatle life and stardom couldn't nourish for George.
In a very short period of time, Harrison went from spiritual dilettante to integrating Eastern spirituality as a lifelong discipline and practice. It was during 1966 and 1967 that Harrison began promoting Transcendental Meditation, convinced the Beatles to make a pilgrimage to India, and began incorporating Eastern philosophy—not just Eastern instrumentation—into the Beatles's music with songs like "Within You Without You." As other Beatles and members of his generation returned to more secular lifestyles, Harrison's infatuation with spirituality stuck and pervaded his lifestyle through both mindset and discipline ever since. Throughout 1966 and 1967, transiting Saturn would oppose Harrison's natal Neptune. (see chart) There is no combination that makes taking the spiritual life more seriously than this. Neptune, much like Pisces, symbolizes the mystical and transcendental, the unity within all life, the infinite. A transit to Saturn allows one to structure a formal discipline around this arena of life so that it can be realized in a more palpable way.
At the same time that Saturn was opposing his Neptune, Saturn was conjoining Harrison's Venus. Venus, besides merely symbolizing the relational dimension of life, also represents artistic creativity and the aesthetic dimension of life. The seriousness that Harrison was applying to his burgeoning spirituality was also applied to his music. The Beatles's decision to halt touring for the sake of songwriting allowed George the time to concentrate on his music and to surpass the three chord guitar playing that infused much of the band's oeuvre. Harrison applied formal study to his musicianship that the other Beatles had no real interest in. Of the student-teacher relationship forged between Harrison and Shankar, Harrison stated in his autobiography I.Me. Mine., " He offered to give me instructions in the basics of the sitar, like how to sit, how to hold it, and the basic exercises. It was the first time I had ever really learned music with a bit of discipline. Then I started to listen to Indian music for the next two years, and hardly touched the guitar, except for recordings."
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